To undertake an autonomous specialist nursing role in planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating nurse-led services for rheumatology patients and carers. This includes the advanced nursing assessment and treatment of patients within rheumatology speciality, who may have difficult acute and/or chronic presentations, in order to meet their physical, psychological and social needs throughout their illness within the hospital and community.
To take responsibility for education of patients and carers with Rheumatological conditions.
To act autonomously in ensuring safe prescribing and monitoring of Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs).
To act as autonomous first line of contact for rheumatology patients seeking advice or support.
To work collaboratively with nurse practitioners, other members of MDT team and consultant rheumatologists to optimise patient care.
To give specialist advice and support to other health care professionals including General Practitioners and community nurses regarding Rheumatological issues.
Active participation in the reporting of clinical incidents/concerns and take appropriate action to address any safety and quality issues raised.
Adhere to policies, procedures and protocols relevant to area of work.
Monitor standards of care and participate in the improvement of care through ad hoc benchmarking/audit/research.
Maintain clear, concise, legible and contemporaneous records at all times, in line with Trust Policy and the Standard for Record keeping (NMC Act 1993).
Demonstrate understanding of evidence based care, including where to obtain evidence.
Provide verbal and written advice to patients/carers about discharge planning, equipment needs, etc.
Ensure decisions regarding consent and mental capacity are taken in accordance with Trust protocols.
Establish effective communication with patients, carers and relatives attending the department.
Provide sensitive, complex information to patients, carers, relatives and professionals across multidisciplinary and multi-agency boundaries, as appropriate to the patient’s specific needs.
Support patients, carers and relatives in their understanding and acceptance of their diagnosis and treatments, and provide education and support in their needs.
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1 st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

KEY DUTIES CONTINUED

Provide leadership support to Department Manager and Lead Nurse in the continued development of preoperative assessment department.
Take lead of development projects as appropriate.
Continually promote equality and diversity, undertaking equality impact assessments when appropriate.
Ensure effective uses of physical and financial resources within the service.
Promote patient and public involvement activities in specialist area to promote service improvement.
Develop and maintain specialist clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis and investigation request/interpretation within the Rheumatology service.
Attend annual appraisal to identify and agree training and development needs as part of a Personal Development Plan.
Participate in clinical supervision sessions and provide leadership to colleagues, arranged by the team Leader/Clinical Supervisor.
Deputise, if required for Clinic Manager maintaining smooth running of the clinic

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain Professional Registration
Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body
Education of patients and carers
To plan, develop, implement and evaluate health education MDT programmes for patients and carers with rheumatological conditions.
To empower patients with rheumatological conditions to realise and maintain their potential in relation to health and well being through one-to-one contacts and MDT education programmes by facilitating improved knowledge on disease management, medication and it’s effects on daily living.
To be the first point of referral for patients commencing on disease modifying drug therapy, including education, consent, monitoring requirements.
To be responsible for the autonomous prescribing and monitoring of disease modifying drug therapy by acting upon identified haematological and biochemistry abnormalities in accordance with Professional, national and departmental guidelines.
To prevent adverse effects on health and well being through education and monitoring of patients on DMARD therapy.
To autonomously act as a first point of contact for patients at home who are experiencing difficulties with aspects of their treatment or disease presenting via telephone help line and rapid access clinics.
To demonstrate expert skills in rheumatological assessment including performing joint assessment, requesting appropriate investigations and interpreting these including blood test and X-ray reports.
To develop a comprehensive nursing management plan to meet the needs of the patient and to liaise with other members of the MDT over patient management.
To liaise with more senior rheumatology nurse or medical staff in development of medical management plan.
To review care plans to ensure the needs of patient are being met.
Assist consultant rheumatologist by reviewing follow-up patients at medical outpatient clinics including taking full history, appropriate rheumatological examination, requesting appropriate investigations, interpreting results of these, instituting appropriate management plan, reviewing progress and re-evaluating plan.
Where necessary, done in consultation with rheumatology consultant or specialist registrar.
To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients within the rheumatology service, and support all grades of staff and MDT colleagues to do likewise.
Assist in the co-ordination and effective delivery of services.
To provide a link between hospital and home to ensure a patient centred, integrated service relevant to their need and those of their family.
To be clinically responsible for the management of patient caseload within own specialist area.
To be available to colleagues, managers and other clinical staff, for the provision of expert advice on nursing matters pertaining to the management of rheumatology patients.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure patient records are kept up to date and accurate and recording is done in line with Trust policies and procedures.
To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters
To co-ordinate the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use in the review of service delivery

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Deputise, if required for Clinic Manager maintaining smooth running of the clinic.
To represent the Trust externally (locally, regionally and nationally) regarding nursing services provided to patients within speciality
To plan, develop, implement and evaluate nurse specialists services within rheumatology
To continue involvement in supervision of junior members of nursing staff.
To provide expert advice to allied health professionals and students working within other clinical areas